Here the Binder Brothers take the Alexander Dumas' classic "The Count of Monte Cristo" plot and set it in space (featuring a huge prison satellite and enough intrigues to feed a crazed imagination of, say, a Cold-War era KGB counter-espionage unit). The "Monte Cristo in Space" plot was later re-used by other science fiction writers, most notably by Alfred Bester in his "Tiger, Tiger". "Five Steps To Tomorrow" is an impressive effort for 1940, but it ultimately failed to grab me, or even to tickle the slightest of my fancies. Oh well. My opinion of Binder remains high. He is definitely the "pulp king" of short stories, but perhaps the longer form was somewhat of a challenge to him (or to "them", to be exact)...

Virtual dreams, escape into computer reality, hardwired brains and "entertainment" feeds - all that described in creepy detail in a story published in 1930! This unlikely "Matrix" predecessor has a rather wooden style, and a plot similar to thousands "Lost World" stories, with the misty remote valleys and the intrepid (though slightly insipid) explorers. However, it all contributes to the feeling of unreality while reading this story. We can only applaud the writer's shrewd prediction that modern crowds would flock in droves into virtual domains. review: 04-Aug-06 (read in 2002)

A real sleeper hit! A blockbuster of a story in two pages! Look at the cover and shudder: the nightmare drill-machines (manned by alien worms) burst from undeground in midtown New York, disrupting regular bus service, making all sorts of trouble for NYPD, and generally having an unsanctioned good time. As will the reader (have a good time, I mean), since it is rare in our "high and mighty" literate world to find such unadulterated silly fun. For truly I say unto you that pulps were created to bring the reader "fun everlasting" :) review: 04-Aug-06 (read in 2002)

"SF&F Reading Experience" is part of "Dark Roasted Blend / Thrilling Wonder" family of sites. We try to highlight the most entertaining and rewarding science fiction and fantasy, with emphasis on memorable reader experience, not necessarily general acceptance by the critics. Have fun, and delve into our extensive ratings and reviews!

All major OFFICIAL AWARDS are highlighted in BLUE("winner" has a letter "W" by it, otherwise it is a runner-up only)

Our PERSONAL AWARDS (ratings) are highlighted in RED and PURPLE:--/ first place :
--/ second place :
--/ third place :--/ fourth place :--/ cool : (equal to fifth place)
ALL "BEST OF" LISTS ARE LOCATED HERE

These awards are given in the following categories: - novel :
- series :
- novella :
- story :
- collection :

Also, there are our personal STYLE / GENRE SPECIFIC AWARDS.
These reflect the story's content and the lasting impression on the reader:

--/ wonder awardsense-of-wonder, "visual intensity" and inventiveness

--/ idea awardoriginality of idea / concept

--/ adventure awardexhilarating plot, excitement / action

--/ style awardoutstanding literary qualities, inimitable style

--/ romance awardintense and beautiful love / relationships

--/ humour awardfunny and cool

--/ emotion awardtouching, lasting impression, sensitivity

--/ shock valuealtogether wild

--/ awesome scalemind-boggling; further enhances sense-of-wonder

--/ rare findvery hard to locate, mostly from old pulps, never reprinted, etc.

Again, please feel free to leave your own review or comment under every writer's entry; also recommend us other stories you liked.